Pipe-gripper.



PATENTED APR. 28 1908.

w. P. BARRON.- PIPE GRIPPER. APPLIU ATION FILED JAN.14,.1 908.

I arrow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. BARRON, OF JAOKSONBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

PIPE-GRIPPER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. BARRON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jacksonburg, in the county of VVetzel and State of WestVirginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Grippers, ofwhich the following is a specification;

The invention relates to an improvement in pipe gripping means designedprimarily for gripping a pipe section in a manner to permit itsconvenient operation in assemling the pipe sections to form a wellcasing.

The main object of the present invention is the production of a pipegripping member constructed for convenient application to the pipesection and adapted when in place to so grip and engage the pipe as topermit convenient turning or handling of the same when screwing orotherwise assembling said pipe section with the other pipe sections of awell casing.

The invention will be described in the fol lowing specification,reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, .inwhich:-

Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating my improved gripping means, a pipelength being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective illustrating the chain formation.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, my improved pipegripper includes a gripping member 1 made up of a series of solid links2 and open links 3, the latter referably comprising spaced plates ofduplicate construction arranged to receive the terminals of the solidlinks between them. The links are arranged in alternate order, beingpivotally connected to each other through the medium of bolts 4, whichextend through plates of an open link and through the terminal of asolid link arranged between said plates, the bolt extending beyond theoutermost plate and being threaded for the reception of a nut or otherconvenient fastener, whereby any one or more links of the grippingmember may be readily and conveniently removed to either renew the sameor to vary the length of the gripper in accordance with the diameter ofthe pipe section being handled.

The relatively inner or pipe engaging surfaces of the solid links areformed with a series of teeth or serrations 5, whereby to cause aneffective gripping of the pipe surface in the operation of the gripper,and in this connec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1908.

Patented April 28, 1908.

Serial No. 410,859.

tion it is to be understood that the links arranged on one side of adiametric line of the.

the opposite direction, whereby a single gripper provides forconveniently gripping the pipe in operating the gripper in eitherdirection. The end links of the gripper are of somewhat greater lengththan the remaining links, both said end links being solid and one, as 6,being materially thickened while the other, as 7, is formed with a hookprojection 8. The terminal links 6 and 7 are also toothed or serrated ontheir inner or bearing surfaces and are adapted to at all times form theterminals of the gripper, the increase or decrease in length of thelatter being effected by adding or subtracting the requisite number oflinks between the terminal links.

The pipe section 9, with which the gripper cooperates, is to be operatedby a bar 10, as

is usual in assembling the pipe sections. For the purposes of thepresent invention I connect one terminal link, as 6, to the bar 10 at anappropriate point in the length of the latter, through the medium of alink 11, the connection being a comparatively loose one and having noparticular function other than supporting the gripper from the bar in aposition to be conveniently used at all times. Secured upon the bar 10at a point preferably midlength the latter is what I term a saddle 12,comprising a solid base 13 fixed on the bar and upwardly projectingspaced parallel plates 14, the latter extending longitudinally of thebar, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The upper or free edges of the plates14 are notched at 15, said notches being arranged in transversely alinedpairs and spaced throughout the length of the plates, being designed forthe reception of a pivot pin 16 projecting from an approximatelyL-shaped lever 17, which is of a thickness to fit between the plates 14,as shown in Fig; 2. By this construction it is obvious that the lever ispivotally supported on the saddle 12 and may be adjusted longitudinallyof the saddle to dispose the pivot in either of the transversely alinedrecesses 15 desired.

In use the gripping member, formed of an appropriate number of links, ispassed about the pipe, the bar 10 resting upon the surface of the pipeand transverse the length thereof, as shown. The terminal link 7 isconnected to the lever 17, after mounting the latter in the appropriatepivot bearings in the saddle, through the medium of a link 18 movablymounted in one end of the lever 17 and'having its opposite end formed toengage the hook 8 of the link 7. As the link 11 loosely connects theopposing terminal link 6 to the bar 10, it is obvious that the gripperis thus held about the pipe section 9, and that it is only necessary totighten the same to permit the desired operation of said section. Thistightening or adjustment is secured throu h the medium of a chain 19,which is terminal y connected to the link 6 of the gripper, and isadapted to be passed over and engaged in one or the other of a series ofrecesses 20 formed in the end of the lever 17 opposite the connection ofthe link 18, the recesses being, of course, formed in the relativelyupper edge of the lever. The chain after being passed over the lever isreturned. to the link 6 and, after being drawn on to tighten the same,is con nected to a hook 21 or other attachment projecting from saidlink, preferably on the side opposite the fixed connection of the chainthereto.

The tightening of the chain as described tends to rock the lever 17 onits pivot with the effect to tighten the gripping member about the pipesection in an effectual manner, and permit any of the usual operationsin assembling said pipe section with the remaining pipe sections.

The invention is primarily designed as a means for convenientlyoperating otherwise unwieldy pipe sections when assembling said sectionsto form a well casing. In this use it is, of course, understood that therespective pipe sections are connected together by screwing one withinthe other, and that each section is supported by a derrick and loweredinto position to be connected to the immediately lower section of thewell casing. With the pipe section supported by the derrick and loweredin position, the gripper of the present invention is applied, and afterconnection as described the uprights by turning the pipe section throughuse of the bar 10 may readily and conveniently connect the particularsection in place. The invention is particularly designed for thispurpose, though it will be at once apparent that it is obviouslyserviceable for other and varied uses, and it is to be understood thatall of such uses are contemplated in the present invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. Agripping member including alternately arranged solid and open links, andmeans for detachably connecting the links, the links on opposite sidesof the center of the member having oppositely effective grip.- pingsurfaces.

2. A pipe gripper including an operating bar, a gripping member movablyconnected to the bar, asaddle carried by the bar, a lever having anadjustable pivotal connection with the saddle, and independent means forconnecting each end of the member to the respective ends of the lever.

3. A pipe gripper including an operating bar, a gripping membermovablyconnected to the bar, a saddle carried by the bar, a lever havingan adjustable pivotal connection with the saddle, and means forconnecting the respective ends of the member to the ends of the lever,one of said connections being adjustable with relation to the pivotalsupport of'the lever.

4. A pipe gripper including an operating bar, a gripping memberconnected with the bar, a saddle connected to the bar, alever having anadjustable pivotal connection with the saddle, a link connecting one endof the lever with one end of the member, and a chain connecting theopposite end of the member with the remaining end of the lever.

5. A pipe gripper including an operating bar, a gripping memberconnected with the bar, a saddle connected to the bar, a lever having anadjustable pivotal connection with the saddle, a link connecting one endofthe lever with one end of the member, and a chain connecting theopposite end of the member with the remaining end of the lever, saidlever being formed with a series .of notches respectively designed toreceive the chain.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM. F. BARRON.

Witnesses:

C. L. JOHNSTON, H. R. JOHNSTON.

